CHAPTER XLIV
A FRIEND ARISES
At the top of the great staircase I was glad to see the friendly face of Mary Quince, who stood, candle in hand, greeting us with many little courtesies, and a very haggard and pallid smile.
‘Very welcome, Miss, hoping you are very well.’
‘All well, and you are well, Mary? and oh! tell us quickly how is Uncle Silas?’
‘We thought he was gone, Miss, this morning, but doing fairly now; doctor says in a trance like. I was helping old Wyat most of the day, and was there when doctor blooded him, an’ he spoke at last; but he must be awful weak, he took a deal o’ blood from his arm, Miss; I held the basin.’
‘And he’s better—decidedly better?’ I asked.
‘Well, he’s better, doctor says; he talked some, and doctor says if he goes off asleep again, and begins a-snori
